The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1887-05-13

CnlcHgo news.
i Gus. Mortimer, the manager Of
Louis james, says that during the
first winter OF the war Beauregard
commanded the army of Virginia,
and the weather was intensely cold.
The men were volunteers, of course,
and entirely unused TO tue hard
ships of war, snd they fell sick in
great numbers, and, what was
worse, became dull and dispirited.
Pro6ting by the example Of the first
Napoleon, Beauregard hit upon the
plan OF establishing theatre in the
camp for the amusement of the
troops. Mortimer was selected to
organize the company, and the
work of erecting the theatre was
begun. The man who was entrust-
ed with the funds necessary to en-
gage the company skipped South
and deserted with the money, and
the movements of the Federal army
broke up all the plans. During the
war, Mortimer says the theatres IN
the South coined money. The hor-
rors of the seige we're mitigated
and sometimes added to by dFamat-
ic performances, aud when an army
entered town, the first thing it
did was to organize company and
play IN the theatre. Some of the
armies contained enough soldier
actors for very fair sized company,
and in some cases plays were re.
hearsed ahead, but Oftener still the
company was non military and
belonged to the theatre or Travelled
about seeking to play in some town
occupied by troops. The prices
were 30 cents tor privates and $1
for officers, and the houses were
universally packed. The audiences
we're enthusiastic and generally in
the very best of humor-so much
so as to make it rather difficult TO
play.
Mortimer was parOled, and play.
ed off and on tor year or two with
all sorts of picked up companies
half PROFESSIONAL half amateur, and
all sorts of sectionalism and politics.
Once, at Corinth, he played Richard
III, in a linen duster, but the au-
dience didn't seem to mind the
discrepancy bit, and insisted on
his coming forward in the tenth
scene aud singing "The Star Span.
gled Banner" and ''In the Prison
Cell | Sit" On the night of the
second days battle of the Wilder.
ness Mortimer was on picket duty.
He had not eaten a mOrsel for over
thirty six hours, and he was nearly
dead with hunger and very faint,
having but reoently come from the
hospital. 1t had been the wont OF
the soldiers to supply the place OF
food by copiOus chews of plug to-
bacco, aud Mortimer's pockets were
full of the weed, but the doctor had
fur hidden him using it. He was
staigding by tree faint and de-
spairlng, aud in the agony of his
situation he exclaimed
"I'd give the biggest plug of to.
bacco in the world tor a piece OF
hard tack!i
'I'll take you at your word, John
nv Reb !" exclaimed u hearty voice,
and before Mortimer could bring
his gun to his shoulder, a form
sprang out of the dusk and q stall
wart Zouave stood before him.
ave been watching you for some
time,n continued the Northern man,
sand | thought you saw me aud
was getting ready to pot nae till L
heard you speak"
The Zouave bad HHslHng his
knapsack, aud displayed before the
famishing rebel what seemed to him
a banquet.
"And now, young fellow" be said,
''if you'll give me Il plug Of uobac-
CO you can have all the hard tack
your jaws can crack. Fork overP
Such exchanges were common,
aud Mortimer clutehed the food
aud passed over a plug Of Virginia
tobacco, which was as eagerly re-
ceived by the ZOuave. They taik-
ed q moment or two and then real
izing their danger, prepared to part.
Mortimer incidentally told his COM
panIon bis name and calling. The
other was surprised aud said be was
an actor, too.
"You are q asked Mortimer, de-
lighted. "You are brick ! When
the war is over I'll come North aud
Join YOU. What's Jour name y
"Louis James, . said the zouave,
as he reslung his knapsacks picked
up his gun, aud disappeared IN the
woods.